The Ottawa-based band delivered an educational presentation about the music industry for Riverview Collegiate rock band students, as well as Peacock Collegiate and Central Collegiate music students.

Although members of the rock ‘n’ roll band – Ian Nicholls (vocals), Kenny Saunders (drums), Tim Kealy (bass guitar) and Brock Tinsley (electric guitar) – discussed the music industry, they also made sure the students understood they need to chose a career that they will find enjoyable.

“When choosing a career it has to be able to pay the bills to some extent,” Nichols told the students. “You have to pick what you love first and foremost.”

A self-proclaimed career band, Double Experience concluded a 50-day tour of the United Kingdom before Christmas, but they have toured across Canada many times over the past few years.

That included a stop in Moose Jaw a couple years ago at Peacock.

“We are probably never going to have the level of success in our lives to be as big as Rihanna, or to compete with artists like that,” said Tinsley. “What we will have – at least – is full ownership of our music.”

Still very much in the trenches of the music industry, Double Experience has acquired plenty of knowledge to be able to speak to the next generation of aspiring musicians and non-musicians alike.

“If you want to be a musician, a painter, a botanist, or a mathematician, whatever it might be, the best advice I can give is to find your expectations,” Tinsley told the students.

“Until you have that inward introspection saying, 'what is it I want out of my job that will make me happy,' (you can't) move forward and achieve that goal.”

One of the goals of James Irving, rock band teacher at Riverview, is to attract musical groups like Double Experience to speak to students about music and life lessons.

“We like to do a couple of these every year where it's music-related and we get different artists that have different messages for students,” said Irving.

“It seems to be a trend right now that bands play their normal tour, plus they do an educational tour. So they are working during the day and at night, maximizing their time on tour.”

As an “aging rock ‘n’ roll guy,” Irving said he could tell his students about the music industry, but hearing it from a young band – none of its members older than 24 – gives them real insight into how to make it in the music industry.

“I think they appreciate it more than me just telling them.”

And of course, Double Experience also played a few songs for the students gathered at Riverview.

Nathan Liewicki can be reached at 306-691-1256 or follow him on Twitter @liewicks